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Thucydides · History of the Peloponnesian War §5.93.1

Athenians on Mutual Gain Through Melian Submission

Passage 593 of 917 · Greek

Summary

The Athenians respond that submission allows the Melians to avoid the worst disaster, while the Athenians gain by not destroying them, benefiting both sides.

§5.93.1ΑΘ. ὅτι ὑμῖν μὲν πρὸ τοῦ τὰ δεινότατα παθεῖν ὑπακοῦσαι ἂν γένοιτο, ἡμεῖς δὲ μὴ διαφθείραντες ὑμᾶς κερδαίνοιμεν ἄν.
ATHENIANS Because for you, it would be possible to submit before suffering the worst, while we would gain by not destroying you.

Notes

  1. 5.93.1ὅτι — A causal conjunction directly answering the Melians' question in the preceding turn (πῶς χρήσιμον ἂν ξυμβαίη...).
  2. 5.93.1ὑπακοῦσαι ἂν γένοιτο — The verb `γίγνομαι` used impersonally with an infinitive (ὑπακοῦσαι) means "it is possible to do." Combined with `ἄν` in the optative (γένοιτο ἄν), it expresses potentiality ("it would be possible").
  3. 5.93.1μὴ διαφθείραντες — An aorist participle with the negative `μή` expressing a condition ("if we do not destroy you"). It functions as the protasis to the potential optative `κερδαίνοιμεν ἄν` ("we would gain") in the main clause.

Cite this passage

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War §5.93.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.93.1

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